Chapter 342: Only official ships and official trade, dare not rashly claim to go to the Western Ocean again

Zhu Zhu Yijun pedaled the "dry duck" hard, with a large tail following behind, running at full speed. In this large tail were red-robed eunuchs, red-helmeted generals, Great Han generals, and Imperial Guards. The speed of this large tail matched Zhu Zhu Yijun's pedaling speed perfectly. The professionally trained Imperial Guards could always keep up with the Emperor's pace at the first moment.

Zhu Zhu Yijun's vehicle whistled past the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, turned at the gate of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and headed to the Palace of Compassionate Ning. Empress Dowager Li had already heard that the Emperor was going to test-drive Cunwu and had been waiting at the gate. Seeing the Emperor's figure, Empress Dowager Li revealed a relieved smile.

One loves one's own child. She was not that she did not dote on her eldest son; it was just that as the heir to the empire, Empress Dowager Li knew she could not be too doting.

Empress Dowager Li understood the principle that "a doting mother produces a failed son" very well, but seeing the child turn into a cold stone was not what she wanted to see either.

With the gradual resurgence of national affairs, her son was finally becoming more and more like a person, with his own joys, angers, sorrows, and happiness, and his own loves and hates. Only then did he live like a person.

Zhu Zhu Yijun lowered the handbrake, and the vehicle slowly stopped in front of the gate of the Palace of Compassionate Ning. The Great Ming Emperor still opened the car door with excitement on his face. Wang Wang Yaozhuo was already pale with fright; after all, it was her first time riding such a vehicle and her first time speeding at such a fast pace.

When Wang Wang Yaozhuo calmed down and got out of the car, the "large tail" behind Zhu Zhu Yijun finally caught up. The ceremonial guards were quickly spread out, and several Imperial Guards raised the tiger-head placards with black characters on a red background, which read "Avoid" and "Silence." Two maids opened the canopy and placed it behind His Majesty. The pomp that the Great Ming Emperor should have when traveling was not missing at all.

Feng Bao and Zhang Hong held their knees, panting for breath. Although the Imperial Guards' posture was still very neat, they were also panting heavily, which showed that running all the way to keep up with His Majesty's speed was still a bit strenuous.

Zhu Zhu Yijun put his hands on his hips, circled his "dry duck" three times to the left and three times to the right, looked at it again and again, nodded with satisfaction again, and said: "Feng, order the internal office to build more, and build more four-person flatbeds. From now on, follow me when I travel."

"Your subjects kowtow and thank Your Majesty for your holy grace." The eunuchs, maids, and meritorious guards looked at each other and thanked him again. This was truly imperial grace as vast as the sea. When His Majesty played, he also took others along to play. His Majesty was such a person—a gentleman who cared for his servants. His Majesty never made things difficult for his servants and would even take care of them.

The formation of Zhu Zhu Yijun's habit was due to his own personality, and naturally, it was also related to the Renyin Palace Incident of the Daoist master. The Daoist master was pressed down in his bedroom by sixteen maids, who strangled and stabbed him. This was the lesson left by the Daoist master: excessive harshness to servants would lead to the maids serving him colluding inside and outside to become assassins at certain times.

"Greetings, Mother." Zhu Zhu Yijun and Wang Wang Yaozhuo bowed to Empress Dowager Li.

"Imperial son, come in quickly. It's almost time for dinner, so let's dine in the Palace of Compassionate Ning." The more Empress Dowager Li looked at this pair of golden boy and jade girl, the more she liked them. Wang Wang Yaozhuo was a daughter-in-law chosen by Empress Dowager Li herself. Except for the fact that there was no movement in her belly for a long time, everything else was perfect. This was not Wang Wang Yaozhuo's fault; it was the Emperor's choice, but Empress Dowager Li could not control the Emperor, so she could only find trouble with Wang Wang Yaozhuo.

Empress Dowager Li keeping the Emperor for dinner actually had two things to say. The first was the issue of the imperial heir. Regardless of whether it was a boy or a girl, the Emperor had to first prove his ability to have children. The second was about the marriage of the Lu Prince Zhu Zhu Yiliu. As the eldest brother acting as a father, Empress Dowager Li naturally had to discuss it with the Emperor.

"Brother! That Moghul country sent 72 beauties. Since brother doesn't use them, why not send them directly to my palace!" Lu Prince Zhu Zhu Yiliu clearly knew that Imperial Uncle Zhu Zhu Zaiyu was a dull person and was not overly enthusiastic or pursuing this matter, so he might as well give them to him!

Since he was idle anyway!

A hand as fast as lightning suddenly grabbed Zhu Zhu Yiliu's ear and twisted it hard. Empress Dowager Li said sternly: "What nonsense are you talking about! Those are all barbarian women. You are making trouble again. How can you ask for these foreign barbarian women!"

"It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!" Zhu Zhu Yiliu stood on tiptoe, grabbed the hand that was twisting his ear, and his face turned red and white. It really hurt very much.

This was not surprising. In the hands of the current Great Ming writers, the barbarians were not even considered human-shaped creatures. It was like a son in later generations saying he wanted to marry a cow. It would be strange if Empress Dowager Li, as a mother, was not angry!

Zhu Zhu Yijun just watched and enjoyed it. He did not persuade them and let Empress Dowager Li discipline her son.

In a happy atmosphere, Zhu Zhu Yijun stepped onto the pedal railcar and pedaled his "dry duck" back to the West Garden.

The term "Provincial Governor" (Governor) first appeared in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, but there were no large-scale appointments in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. It was not until the Yongle period that Ming Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di dispatched 22 governors led by Hu Ying to patrol the world, which could be considered as having established governors. Of course, this move was considered to be Zhu Di wanting to find Zhu Zhu Yunwen, who was wandering among the people.

In the third year of Emperor Jingtai, Geng Jiuchou was appointed as the Governor of Shaanxi as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. At that time, many administrative disputes occurred with the local Provincial Administration Commission and the Provincial Surveillance Commission. The Shaanxi Administration Commissioner Xu Zi submitted a memorial, saying that the governor's authority was not clear, and requested the imperial court to determine the governor's official rank and status.

Finally, the Emperor Jingtai Emperor issued an edict that all governors appointed to local areas would hold the rank of Vice Minister of the third rank, and would also hold a position in the Censorate, namely Right Vice Censor-in-Chief. "Those who serve as governors as Ministers or Vice Ministers shall all hold the title of Censor-in-Chief, so as to facilitate their work."

Since then, a Great Ming governor had three identities: a Vice Minister or Minister of the Six Ministries, an appointment from the Six Ministries, and a Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. And because governors often concurrently held the position of Provincial Military Commander, the governor was both a capital official and the highest local military commander, a frontier official who held exclusive power over local military, political, and supervisory affairs.

Ling Ling Yunyi's return to the capital was naturally very busy. Besides having to see his mentor Zhang Zhang Juzheng, Ling Ling Yunyi also had to meet with the officials of the Six Ministries to ensure support and ensure that this trip to the capital would not be in vain and that the things he hoped for would not fall through. On the other hand, Ling Ling Yunyi also had to go to the Censorate to pay his respects and see his former classmates and fellow townsmen.

So busy, it was not until the third month that Ling Ling Yunyi finally had some leisure. He brought large and small bags to the Quanchu Guild Hall; he wanted to see the leader of the Zhejiang faction, Tan Lun.

Tan Lun entertained Ling Ling Yunyi warmly and even specially booked a seat at the Yanxing Building, appearing extremely grand.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food, and after the atmosphere became warm, Tan Lun looked at Ling Ling Yunyi, becoming more and more satisfied, leaned to the side, and said: "Minister Ling, now that the Shandong matter is over, come back to the capital. I am old, and the affairs in the ministry are somewhat beyond my care."

Tan Lun hoped that Ling Ling Yunyi could return to the capital to share some of the Ministry of War's affairs, because Ling Ling Yunyi himself held the position of Tan Sima and had the military merit of pacifying Mount Luopang.

Zeng Shengu smiled and said: "Minister Ling, don't think too much. I am shallow in talent and difficult to shoulder heavy responsibilities."

Zeng Shengu was not "difficult to shoulder heavy responsibilities," but was not suitable for the position of Tan Sima. His relationship with Zhang Zhang Juzheng was too close. If he were to become the Tan Sima, it would easily cause an imbalance in the imperial court.

Currently, the Jin faction and the Zhang faction in the imperial court were roughly in a state of balanced confrontation. Tan Lun's position as Tan Sima was very critical; this was a powerful department. If it also fell into Zhang Zhang Juzheng's pocket, even if His Majesty did not think much, the court officials would have to think more.

Ling Ling Yunyi would not. Ever since the Kong family case in Yanzhou, in the political spectrum, Ling Ling Yunyi's "Zhang faction" color had gradually faded, and he had gradually become an "Emperor faction."

"Eh, this won't do. I have already told His Majesty that after the situation in Shandong stabilizes, I will take the guest troops to the Nagasaki Governor's Office. This is something that was decided long ago. Xie, Grand Marshal, for your warm hospitality, I really have no intention of this." Ling Ling Yunyi immediately expressed his refusal and stated his destination. This was not being polite; it was a clear refusal.

Ling Ling Yunyi knew his own mind. With his reputation, returning to the capital would only have one result: being a dragon trapped in a shallow beach, unable to do anything. The capital was a besieged city; people outside were desperately trying to get in, while people inside knew how deep the water in this pool was.

When he was a governor in Yunyang, Jiangxi, and Liangguang, he had already determined his ambition. Having killed so many people, he had long ago given up the idea of returning to the capital to be a "Ming official." In Shandong, he even burned the Kong family in Yanzhou. Ling Ling Yunyi knew that a person like him would be out of place in the capital.

"If Minister Ling has any concerns, I can pave the way for Minister Ling." Tan Lun thought for a while, but was still somewhat unwilling to give up.

Ling Ling Yunyi leaned back in his chair, pondered for a moment, and still shook his head, saying: "I am afraid of causing trouble for His Majesty. If I poke a hole in the sky, will His Majesty protect me or not? Forget it."

Ling Ling Yunyi knew his own character flaws, so he would not suffer this grievance in the capital. He was afraid that he would kill someone in the Hall of Literary Brilliance.

Tan Lun felt it was a great pity. He certainly knew of His Majesty's arrangements, but he had not expected Ling Ling Yunyi to have accepted this arrangement so long ago, and even to have displayed an attitude of going there with pleasure. This left Tan Lun somewhat helpless; there were not many candidates for the position of Tan Sima.

Back then, when Li Li Rusong entered the capital from Liaodong to participate in the selection of generals for the Capital Battalion, he immediately said upon seeing Tan Lun that the Capital Battalion was a place controlled by civil officials, like servants, and that it was better not to serve there. This was Li Li Rusong's attitude, and in fact, it was also the thinking of a portion of the military men: by what right did civil officials, who lacked the strength to truss a chicken, control military officers?

For the position of Tan Sima, if it were to be a Ming Jinshi, it had to be the kind of Ming Jinshi who could fight.

Yin Yin Zhengmao was one, Ling Ling Yunyi was one, and Ceng Ceng Shengwu was one; there were no other suitable people.

"It's a pity." Tan Lun toasted Ling Ling Yunyi. Toppling the Kong family could be described as deeply satisfying to the people; Ling Ling Yunyi dared to do it, so he did not fear the condemnation of history.

Ling Ling Yunyi drained his cup in one gulp, his expression slightly strange, and said in a low voice, "Is the Grand Marshal drinking water?"

"The Grand Physicians won't let me drink alcohol." Upon hearing this, Tan Lun was so angry his face turned beet red. He looked at the two Grand Physicians standing beside him, and he just couldn't contain his rage. He was a military man who had fought against Japanese pirates in battle formations, facing sharp weapons without even blinking, yet he had to be managed by these Grand Physicians just to drink a cup of wine.

Tan Lun could deal with these two Grand Physicians with one hand, but unfortunately, these two Grand Physicians would run to His Majesty to lodge a complaint!

It was simply, what can be endured, what cannot be endured!

Ling Ling Yunyi raised an eyebrow, glanced at the two Grand Physicians, and became even more convinced that it was better for him not to return to the capital. He also had a body full of ailments, and being restrained like this was not as refreshing as dying on Mount Luopang!

"Why is it so noisy downstairs?" Ling Ling Yunyi heard the commotion downstairs and asked with some curiosity. This was the Yanxing Tower, the number one tavern in the Great Ming capital; how could there be idlers causing trouble?

Ceng Ceng Shengwu stood up, looked down from the railing, and then shook his head, saying, "Don't mention it. The wealthy families who moved from the Western Tucheng are competing in wealth with the rich young masters of the capital. This is likely another flare-up of temper. These wealthy families who moved here have made the capital restless. Yao Xu Guangqi and Wang Qian are arguing again because of a prostitute."

"Is that the Yao Xu Guangqi who is scattering money everywhere to buy people's hearts?" Ling Ling Yunyi had been in the capital for half a month and had already heard the name Yao Xu Guangqi many times.

There were currently three wealthy young masters in the Great Ming capital: Wang Qian of the Pu Prefecture Wang clan, Yao Xu Guangqi of the Wu Xing Yao clan, and the Mughal Empire special envoy Shah Mamait. The characteristic of the three was scattering money everywhere. Unlike the other two, Shah Mamait was simply happy and not doing it to buy people's hearts.

Ceng Ceng Shengwu said with certainty, "Yes, that's him."

Ling Ling Yunyi and Tan Lun chatted for a long time about the matter of the garrison for the Mizhou Maritime Trade Office. The others had been completely persuaded; only the Tan Sima was left. According to Ling Ling Yunyi's conjecture, Tan Lun should be extremely easy to persuade, and the facts were indeed so. Tan Lun did not wait for Ling Ling Yunyi to speak before he took the initiative to talk about the Mizhou Maritime Trade Office naval matter. He could not tolerate the sea pirates secretly cutting the fishermen's kelp at all!

Ling Ling Yunyi and Tan Lun walked while talking about the various evil deeds of those sea pirates: secretly cutting kelp, stealing fish cages, robbing the fishermen's boats, robbing the people's winter grain, burning, killing, and looting, and so on.

"Bang." A figure suddenly landed horizontally at Ling Ling Yunyi's feet.

It was a waiter who had been soliciting customers in front of the Yanxing Tower; he had been thrown here. Obviously, the waiter had been caught in the crossfire as an innocent bystander.

The moment the waiter fell to the ground, the captains of the Wucheng Military Commission, who were responsible for patrol duties, surrounded them.

Ling Ling Yunyi squatted on the ground, checked the waiter's breathing, and then reached out to carefully take the waiter's pulse. After confirming that the waiter was not injured, he helped the waiter up from the ground. Ling Ling Yunyi had long been in the military and counted as half a physician.

"At the feet of the Son of Heaven?" Ling Ling Yunyi looked at Tan Lun with slight confusion.

Tan Lun's expression changed instantly, and he said sternly, "Arrest them!"

The captains of the Wucheng Military Commission had originally thought it was nothing major and were about to disperse, but when they looked closely, they immediately recognized who it was. Without a word, they pinned down Yao Xu Guangqi and his party!

The one who had injured someone was Yao Xu Guangqi's servant. These servants did not offer any resistance. If they resisted the arrest by the Wucheng Military Commission captains, the crime would be increased by three degrees, and a small matter could turn into a heaven-shattering event.

"Do you know who I am?! You dare to arrest me? If you arrest me, you won't have any good fruit to eat!" Yao Xu Guangqi struggled a few times, only to find that the captains who usually called him brother gave him no face at all; their expressions looked as if they wanted to eat him alive!

"Greetings, Grand Marshal. Is the Grand Marshal here to eat? I didn't know the Grand Marshal was here in person. Please forgive me, Grand Marshal!" Xu Xu Youzhi, Deputy Commander of the Wucheng Military Commission, approached with a face full of smiles to pay his respects.

Xu Xu Youzhi was the cousin of Imperial Son-in-Law Xu Xu Congcheng. After Xu Xu Congcheng married the Emperor Jiajing Emperor's daughter, Princess Princess Jia Shan, he rose to prominence and became the Deputy Commander of the Western City Wucheng Military Commission. Every New Year, Xu Xu Youzhi would follow Xu Xu Congcheng to pay respects at the mansion of the Tan Sima, Tan Lun, because the Wucheng Military Commission was managed by the Ministry of War.

Tan Lun was their direct superior.

Tan Lun flicked his sleeves and said, "If I'm not here to eat, why would I be here? I can't even have a quiet meal! This person maliciously injured someone; take him to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation!"

"This subordinate obeys!" Xu Xu Youzhi straightened his body, waved his hand, and said loudly, "Take them all away!"

This case was originally a small case, the kind of small case where if the people don't sue, the officials don't investigate. The waiter at Yanxing Tower would never dare to offend a figure like Yao Xu Guangqi; he would never dare to report it to the officials after suffering a loss in silence. But this matter was ruined by the fact that it happened in front of the Grand Marshal and the Governor of Shandong.

Some things, if not put on the scale, weigh only four taels; if put on the scale, a thousand catties cannot hold them down.

"Grand Marshal?!" Yao Xu Guangqi was stunned; he repeated it blankly, his gaze becoming dull.

Wang Qian's gaze became venomous. He had a father who was the Minister of Justice; if Yao Xu Guangqi fell into his hands, then this matter would not end well!

Soon, the case became bigger and bigger, even reaching the Emperor.

On the seventh day of the third month of the seventh year of Emperor Wanli, the Great Ming Emperor formally summoned the Governor of Shandong, Ling Ling Yunyi, in the Zhao Wenhua Hall. Ling Ling Yunyi had basically finished his business and intended to leave. Zhu Zhu Yijun summoned him formally to issue the decree confirming the garrison of the Mizhou Maritime Trade Office naval forces, which could also be considered a farewell.

After this departure, Ling Ling Yunyi would not return to the capital to report on his duties for another three years.

"Is that Yao Xu Guangqi malicious injury case very tricky?" After receiving the decree, Ling Ling Yunyi brought up the case he had witnessed with his own eyes. The victim in this case was unwilling to pursue it; the waiter at Yanxing Tower held the idea that more trouble is worse than less trouble. The Wu Xing Yao clan was also not short of money. After paying a large sum of settlement money, the waiter at Yanxing Tower went to the Shuntian Prefecture Southern Yamen to close the case.

"If we pursue it, the victim doesn't care, making it seem like making a mountain out of a molehill. If we don't pursue it, the matter has already reached the ears of the Emperor. If it is not dealt with, where is the law? Where is the majesty of the imperial court?" Wang Wang Chonggu heard Ling Ling Yunyi's inquiry and spoke about the tricky aspects of the case.

Ling Ling Yunyi thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, hand Yao Xu Guangqi over to me. I will keep him by my side as a staff member; don't let him stir up trouble in the capital."

"Hmm?" Zhu Zhu Yijun was startled, then smiled and said, "What Minister Ling says is not a bad strategy."

As for whether Yao Xu Guangqi was willing? If a high-ranking official like Minister Ling named him, then Yao Xu Guangqi had to be willing even if he wasn't, otherwise the Wu Xing Yao clan would not be giving face to Minister Ling. A dignified high-ranking official had his face rejected like this; Minister Ling would be furious!

As for whether following Ling Ling Yunyi was a blessing or a curse, it would depend on Yao Xu Guangqi's own fortune.

"Good, good, good!" Tan Lun laughed directly. With Yao Xu Guangqi as a staff member by Ling Ling Yunyi's side, he would certainly be very honest. Ling Ling Yunyi was a person who could not tolerate sand in his eyes; if Yao Xu Guangqi committed even the slightest mistake, he would likely be dealt with by Ling Ling Yunyi according to military law.

"Then hand him over to Minister Ling!" Zhu Zhu Yijun took out Yao Xu Guangqi's dossier. With a stroke of the pen in his hand, Yao Xu Guangqi transformed and became Ling Ling Yunyi's secretary, which was a staff member.

"This subject thanks Your Majesty for your great grace." Ling Ling Yunyi thanked him again, then took his leave and departed.

Ling Ling Yunyi had dealt with a rather tricky figure. Yao Xu Guangqi did have some ability; he had been able to compete with Wang Qian in the capital for so long and occasionally gain the upper hand, so he was not an ordinary person. Yao Xu Guangqi did things with a real sense of proportion; he never crossed the line, and everything he did was on the edge of legality. The imperial court naturally could not deal with him indiscriminately, so Yao Xu Guangqi was indeed quite tricky.

This time, Yao Xu Guangqi was taken away by Ling Ling Yunyi.

Yao Xu Guangqi, who had walked out of the Ministry of Justice prison, had not yet had time to rejoice when he saw a gentle person waiting in front of the Ministry of Justice Southern Yamen.

"Are you Yao Xu Guangqi?" Ling Ling Yunyi said very gently, "I am Ling Ling Yunyi, the Governor of Shandong. I believe you have heard my name. Come with me; I recommended you to His Majesty to be my secretary. From now on, follow me and do your work well."

Yao Xu Guangqi widened his eyes and said even more blankly, "Is this Minister Ling in person?"

"It is indeed me." Ling Ling Yunyi's smile remained sunny and bright.

"Can I not go!" Yao Xu Guangqi shuddered violently. The name Ling Ling Yunyi seemed blood-red. He suddenly took three steps back and said in terror, "Minister Ling! I have old parents above and young children below; spare my life... can I not go?"

"Hmm?" Ling Ling Yunyi raised an eyebrow, expressing his confusion with a nasal sound.

"I'll go! I'll go! Minister Ling, please calm your anger!" Yao Xu Guangqi only felt a chill rushing from his tailbone to his crown, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, bone-chillingly cold. He knew that if he said one more word that angered Ling Ling Yunyi, things would become extremely terrifying!

"Hmm! Very good, let's go." Ling Ling Yunyi smiled again, got into his carriage, and headed towards the Huitong Hostel. He was leaving the capital today.

The news that Yao Xu Guangqi had been taken away by Ling Ling Yunyi spread throughout the capital as if it had grown wings. The Yao clan of Western Tucheng immediately panicked. The Yao clan did not dare to cause trouble for Ling Ling Yunyi and just wanted to send this plague god away quickly. The Yao clan pondered for a long time and sent two hundred taels of silver as travel expenses, thanking Minister Ling for his appreciation.

Yao Xu Guangqi was treated as an abandoned pawn and set off on the road with Ling Ling Yunyi.

At this time, in the Zhao Wenhua Hall, Zhu Zhu Yijun was formally receiving the Mughal Empire special envoy Shah Mamait. Five five-masted ocean-crossing ships were already prepared. Shah was setting sail for Songjiang Prefecture today. In addition to the five five-masted ocean-crossing ships, fifty three-masted clinker-built ships would accompany them to the Mughal Empire to transport horses.

"Respected Great Monarch of the Four Directions, Supreme Emperor of the Great Ming, the people of the Central Plains keep their word. We Mughals are also people who value faith and keep promises. These twenty thousand warhorses were said to be a congratulatory gift, so there is no reason for Your Majesty to pay for them again. Before departing, Emperor Akbar repeatedly instructed me that obtaining Your Majesty's friendship is a heavy responsibility higher than mountains and deeper than seas." Shah Mamait reiterated that these twenty thousand warhorses did not need to be paid for.

He had promised before that as long as the Great Ming Emperor agreed to sell the ships, this batch of warhorses would be part of the price increase.

Doing business requires sincerity as the foundation.

"This makes it seem like I have taken a huge advantage in our mutual diplomatic relations." Zhu Zhu Yijun thought Shah Mamait was just saying that, but it turned out Shah Mamait was serious. The Great Ming only needed to sail the ships over and bring the horses back.

Shah Mamait said with great certainty, "Your Majesty, my monarch has suffered great humiliation but has no means to wash away the shame. The Westerners also refuse to sell us ships, cannons, firearms, or gunpowder. If we think of this, Your Majesty's generosity is the cornerstone of the exchanges between the Great Ming and the Mughal Empire."

Was money enough? The Dutch were outputting on the face of the Mughal Empire's Emperor Akbar. Akbar could not buy weapons even with money, so he had to swallow his broken teeth. Therefore, in the exchanges between the Mughal Empire and the Great Ming, the Great Ming did not lose, and the Mughal Empire made a bloody profit.

"And generous Your Majesty, you also gave us one thousand bolts of the very scarce silk. I can no longer describe my gratitude with words." Shah Mamait's gratitude was very sincere. Great Ming silk was very scarce; it was all given to the Westerners' large sailing ships in exchange for silver. Even the officials in the imperial court wore cotton clothes and fine wool, not silk.

A land of silk, yet unable to use silk, but selling one thousand bolts to Shah Mamait—this was indeed generous. This showed that the Great Ming Emperor really valued the Mughal Empire.

Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled again. Wasn't it because you, Shah Mamait, increased the price so much?

The silk sold to Shah Mamait also included the four types of damask and satin. The profit for one bolt to the Westerners was twelve silver, while Shah Mamait added twelve silver to the average price per bolt, which meant the profit was twenty-four silver per bolt.

Back then, Wan Wan Shihe would directly contradict the Emperor for the sake of a little silk, and Wang Wang Guoguang would even argue until his face was red with Feng Bao in the Ministry of Revenue over whether the imperial court could purchase it at a fair price. Silk was a matter of face. The officials of the Great Ming court only wore silk for their official uniforms during the Great Court Assembly.

Zhu Zhu Yijun actually found it hard to understand the almost crazy fanatical pursuit of silk by the Great Ming, the Mughal Empire, and the Westerners. He felt that clothes made of fine wool and cotton were also quite good; it wasn't as if they couldn't be worn.

Shah Mamait thanked him solemnly again. Face is something given to each other. You give me face, I give you face; this way, everyone has face. The Dutch style of robbing first and only becoming honest and reasonable after being beaten cannot earn face.

In a happy and friendly atmosphere, Zhu Zhu Yijun ended the reception of the Mughal Empire special envoy.

Shah Mamait left the Zhao Wenhua Hall. Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Shah Mamait's back and said with slight emotion, "Special Envoy Shah is really too polite. Teacher, instruct the officials in Songjiang to do a good job of the handover. This official ship's southward voyage to the Western Ocean is the most important thing this year; it must be done well."

"This subject and others obey the decree." Zhang Zhang Juzheng led the Great Ming court officials to bow and accept the order.

"Does this count as another voyage to the Western Ocean?" Hence Hai Rui pondered for a moment and asked.

Wang Wang Guoguang looked at Hence Hai Rui and shook his head quite firmly, saying, "Official ships and official trade do not count as another voyage to the Western Ocean."

"From the sixth year of Emperor Xuande to the ninth year of Emperor Xuande, the last voyage to the Western Ocean was the smallest in scale. Just the treasure ships alone numbered over two hundred, horse ships nearly two thousand, and large and small vessels over ten thousand. The Great Ming military had over thirty thousand men. This time, there are only five five-masted ocean-crossing ships, fifty horse ships, and over one hundred and seventy combat command ships. The large and small vessels do not exceed five hundred, and the military totals three thousand men. It cannot be recklessly called another voyage to the Western Ocean."

What scale was this voyage to the Mughal Empire? One dare not call it another voyage to the Western Ocean.

It is not worthy.

Begging for monthly tickets, Awoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(End of chapter)